Selective drive transmission



1967 w. HEBERLING ETAL 3,335,622

SELECTIVE DRIVE TRANSMISSION 5 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1966 mm m w INVENIOPS. ,WULFGANB MULLER WALTER HEBERLING BY yhd, 6%;

ATTORN 6 Y5 1967 w. HEBERLING ETAL 3,335,622

SELECTIVE DRIVE TRANSMISSION 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 8, 1966 Q 1 mum mm 8 B Q??? o o o a Vm \R l 1 mm 1.1 MM; 1..W, A 1 Q N z! V l I I .l. mu Qm mm w o v vm mm 0 mm vmo o o m Nu m y Ill I- ,1 00 v 1 m mm mm mm -1 Q l NY. I, llolx 00 H mw o A O O 0 O O g S R a a mm INVENTORS. WALTER HEBERLINB WULFGANG MULLER g- 1967 w. HEBERLING ETAL 3,335,622

SELECTIVE DRIVE TRANSMISSION Filed Aug. 8, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet I I I I I I l L Q J I i I l "1 a V 1 Q I 0v I: I A I z 2* a? L Q I ml I Q g ,3 0; Q

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INVENIO'PSJ WALTER HEBERL|NG,WULFGANG MULLER ATTORNEYS Filed Aug. 8, 1966 1957 w. HEBERLING ETAL 3,335,622

SELECTIVE DRIVE TRANSMISSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mvewxoras: WALTER HEBERLINGIWULFGANG MULLER Aug. 15, 1967 Filed Aug. 8, 1966 w. HEBERLING ETAL 3,335,622

SELECTIVE DRIVE TRANSMISSION 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT PSI WALTER HEBEHLING WULFGANG M LLER United States Patent 3,335,622 SELECTIVE DRIVE TRANSMISSION Walter Heberling and Wolfgang Miiller, Westphalia, Germany, assignors to Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia, Wethmar, near Lunen, Westphalia, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 570,930 Claims priority, application Germany, Oct. 19, 1964, G 30,997; Oct. 6, 1965, G 44,870 8 Claims. (Cl. 74-661) This is a continuation-in-part of copending US. application Ser. No. 497,124, filed Oct. 18, 1965, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a mining arrangement having auxiliary means for transmitting motion to the drive couple of a mining conveyor mechanism and/or a mining machine displacement mechanism, and more particularly, to auxiliary connecting means, auxiliary coupling means and drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means, mounted on the conveyor drive mounting means of the mining arrangement for auxiliary rotatable driving of the mining conveyor driving drum, separately from the driving of such drum by a main drive means.

Mining arrangements are known which include a mining conveyor adapted to be extended longitudinally along a mine face to convey mineral operatively extracted from the mine face to a point remote therefrom. Also, mining machines, such as mining ploughs or planers, are conventionally provided for displacement back and forth along the mine face in extractive engagement therewith to remove mineral therefrom, so that the same may be deposited onto the conveyor for removal from the site of operations. Normally, the mining machine is guided on its longitudinal path by guide means, which may take the form of the side portion of the conveyor adjacent the mine face, or more specifically, guide means mounted along the side wall of the conveyor adjacent the mine face.

The mining machine is conducted back and forth along the mine face, in the usual instance, by a drive cable means or drive chain, which is in the form of an endless chain attached to either side of the mining machine such that the end loops of the chain or drive cable means are mounted on rotatable driving sprocket wheels or drums or the like. Thus, upon positive rotation of one or both of such sprocket wheels or drums in a corresponding direction, the mining machine will be displaced along the mine face in the desired manner, and upon reversal of the direction of rotation, such mining machine will reverse its direction of travel along the mine face.

In the same way, the mining conveyor is provided, in the usual instance, with scraper flights or bars, or the like, which are spaced apart and connected for movement in a forward direction on the upperside of the conveyor, whereby to remove the deposited mineral, and in a return direction on the underside of the conveyor. Single or double chain means are used for connecting the scraper flights or bars for movement in the desired operative manner.

Particular constructions and arrangements of mining machines, mining conveyors, attachment means, drive cable means, scraper chain connections, and the like for mining machines and mining conveyor may be appreciated from US. Patents 2,691,514; 2,702,697; 2,745,651; 2,791,411; 2,810,565; 2,818,164; 2,965,217; 2,990,168; 3,030,087; 3,033,542; 3,071,355; 3,072,241; 3,113,762, and the like, specific constructions and arrangements for drive means, for operating such mining conveyors and/ or mining machines, being shown in the aforesaid US. Patents 2,691,514; 2,810,565; 2,990,168; 3,033,542 and 3,072,241.

Nevertheless, problems exist in connection with undertaking the starting of the drive means for displacing minice ing machines and/ or for operating mining conveyor scraper bars or chains, and considering the small space available in a mineway for the drive means in question, and the excessive forces which must be overcome in actually starting the aforementioned mining equipment, a meaningful and practical arrangement, whereby to avoid the adverse effects of such excessive forces, for example in terms of the undue wear and tear on the Working parts, has not heretofore been successfully provided.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome drawbacks previously encountered in the art and to provide a mining arrangement having auxiliary means for transmitting motion to the drive couple of a mining conveyor mechanism and/ or a mining machine displacement mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to provide auxiliary connecting means, auxiliary coupling means and drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means, mounted on the conveyor drive mounting means of the mining arrangement for auxiliary rotatable driving of the mining conveyor driving drum, separate from the driving of such drum by a main drive means.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide for the convenient and versatile auxiliary driving of either the mining conveyor mechanism or the mining machine displacement mechanism, by means which are durable in use, inexpensive to manufacture, adapted to occupy a minimum space in the mineway and mountable on existing mining conveyor drive mounting means with a minimum of modification of existing equipment.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the within specification and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional top view of an auxiliary coupling arrangement in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional top view of an alternate embodiment of the auxiliary coupling arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an over-all arrangement of the auxiliary coupling arrangement in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a portion of the conveyor drive drum showing the disposition of the auxiliary coupling arrangement in accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top sectional view of the auxiliary coupling arrangement in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of the auxiliary coupling arrangement of a still further embodiment of the invention.

It has been found in accordance with the present invention that an improvement may now be provided in a mining arrangement including a mining conveyor drive mounting means having a mining conveyor driving drum operatively rotatably mounted thereon, and main connecting means atone end of the drum for operatively connecting the drum with a main drive means for rotatable driving of the drum, such improvement comprising auxiliary connecting means at the other end of the drum, auxiliary coupling means, and drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means. The auxiliary motion transmitting means and the auxiliary coupling means are rotatably mounted on the conveyor drive mounting means at said other end of the drum and operatively positioned with respect to each other and with respect to the auxiliary connecting means for relative movement with respect to one another from an inoperative auxiliary rotary motion transmitting position to an operative auxiliary rotary m0- tion transmitting position, whereby to place the auxiliary motion transmitting means, the auxiliary coupling means, and the auxiliary connecting means in cooperative rotatable motion transmitting engagement for auxiliary rotatable driving of said drum separately from rotatable driving of said drum by the main drive means.

In accordance with one particular embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary connecting means includes an axially extending bore recess means in said other end of said drum having radially inwardly directed axially extending bore serrations defined therein, said drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means includes a rotatably mounted drive wheel having an axially extending center journal aperture coaxial with said bore recess means, and said auxiliary coupling means includes a drive shaft coaxially displaceably received in said journal aperture and connected to said drive wheel thereat for rotation therewith, said drive shaft having an end portion adjacent said bore recess means with radially outwardly directed axially extending shaft serrations defined thereon operatively corresponding to said inwardly directed bore serrations, and said drive shaft being axially displaceable from an inoperative position with said outwardly directed shaft serrations axially remote from said radially inwardly directed bore serrations to an operative position with said radially outwardly directed shaft serrations in rotatable coupling engagement with said radially inwardly directed bore serrations to cause rotation of said mining conveyor driving drum upon rotation of said drive wheel and in turn said drive shaft.

In this regard, the arrangement in accordance with such embodiment further includes a mining machine drive sprocket means, for driving a drive cable to conduct a mining machine along a conveyor with which said conveyor drive mounting means is adapted to be associated, with drive sprocket means is rotatably mounted on said conveyor drive mounting means between said other end of the conveyor driving drum and said drive wheel, said drive sprocket means having an axially extending center journal aperture, coaxial with said drive shaft and said bore recess means, and provided with corresponding radially inwardly directed axially extending sprocket serrations defined therein, the axial edge of said procket serrations adjacent said bore recess means being spaced a predetermined axial distance from the correspondingly adjacent axial edge of said bore serrations, said shaft serrations on said shaft end portion extending axially a shorter distance than said predetermined distance, such that said shaft may be displaced from said inoperative position in which said shaft serrations are situated between the edges of said sprocket serrations and bore serrations in one axial direction a first axial distance to a sprocket operative position with said shaft serrations in operative rotatable engagement with said sprocket serrations, and in the other axial direction a second axial distance to a drum operative position with said shaft serrations in operative rotatable engagement with said bore serrations, whereby upon rotation of said drive wheel, and in turn said shaft, said sprocket means and driving drum may be alternately rotated,

The aforementioned embodiment also preferably includes a construction in which said drive wheel is operatively connected to auxiliary rotatable drive means to drive said wheel and in turn said shaft, and in which displacement imparting control means are provided operatively interconnecting said shaft and said conveyor drive mounting means to effect displacement of said shaft between said inoperative position and said sprocket operative and drum operative positions.

Suitably, the other end portions of said shaft is provided with a shaft recess extending coaxially therein, and said control means include piston-cylinder means received in said shaft recess and operatively interconnecting said shaft with the conveyor drive mounting means.

In accordance with an alternate or second embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary connecting means includes an axially extending bore recess means in said other end of said drum having radially inwardly directed axially extending bore serrations defined therein and a coaxially positioned rotata-bly mounted shaft having an end portion adjacent said bore recess means with radially outwardly directed axially extending shaft serrations defined thereon as well as an intermediate coupling collar link having a coaxially extending receiving recess, said collar link having corresponding radially outwardly directed axially extending collar link serrations defined thereon operatively engaging said bore serrations and having corresponding radially inwardly directed axially extending collar link serrations defined therein operatively engaging said shaft serrations, said drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means includes a rotatably mounted drive wheel having an axially extending center journal aperture coaxial with said bore recess means, said shaft being coaxially received in said journal aperture mounted for rotation independently of the rotation of said drive wheel, and said auxiliary coupling mean includes auxiliary clutch means axially displaceably mounted on said shaft adjacent said drive wheel and connected for rotation with said shaft, said auxiliary clutch means being axially displaceabie from an inoperative clutch engaging position spaced from said drive wheel to an operative clutch engaging position in which said auxiliary clutch means is in operative engagement with said drive wheel to effect rotation of said shaft, collar link and drive drum upon rotation of said drive wheel.

In accordance with such second embodiment of the invention, a mining machine drive sprocket means is provided, for driving a drive cable to conduct a mining machine along a conveyor with which said conveyor drive mounting means is adapted to be associated, which sprocket means is rotatably mounted via a sprocket shaft on said conveyor drive mounting means along a sprocket axis spaced from the axis of said shaft and said drive wheel, auxiliary rotatable drive spindle means being provided in operative engagement with said drive wheel to effect rotation of said shaft, collar link and drive drum, a sprocket shaft gear wheel being mounted on said sprocket shaft for rotation independently thereof and situated in operative engagement with said spindle means, and sprocket clutch means being provided axially displaceably on said sprocket shaft adjacent said gear wheel and connected for rotation with said sprocket shaft, said sprocket clutch means being axially displaceable from an inoperative clutch engaging position spaced from said gear wheel to an operative clutch engaging position in which said sprocket clutch means is in operative engagement with said gear wheel to effect rotation of said sprocket shaft and sprocket means, whereby alternate and simultaneous rotation of said drive drum and said sprocket means may be carried out in dependence upon the axial position of said auxiliary clutch means and the axial position of said sprocket clutch means with respect to said drive wheel and said gear wheel, respectively.

With respect to the second embodiment of the invention, preferably, the auxiliary rotatable drive spindle means is operatively connected to auxiliary rotatable drive means to drive said spindle and in turn said drive drum and said sprocket means in dependence upon the axial positions of said auxiliary clutch means and said sprocket clutch means.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows an auxiliary coupling arrangement in accordance with the present invention used for the auxiliary driving of the drum 2 of the mining conveyor 1 of the conventional type, as well as for driving alternatively the sprocket wheel 14 used for operating the drive cable means for displacing longitudinally the mining machine back and forth along the mine face in the conventional manner. Drive drum 2 is provided with a sprocket end 3 for operatively mounting the conveyor chain (not shown), for example, of a double chain scraper conveyor arrangement in the conventional manner. The opposite sprocket end of drive drum 2 is not shown, but the construction thereof is well known. A main drive means for driving drum 2 is normally disposed at the drum end remote from sprocket end 3 whereby to drive the drum in the typical manner. In place of a second main drive means coupled to drum 2 at sprocket end 3, as'has been used in the past to achieve additional torque for driving drum 2, the auxiliary coupling means of the present invention is provided instead.

Auxiliary connecting means at sprocket end 3 of drum 2 include the bore hole 4 provided with interior serrations 5 axially extending and radially inwardly directed. Sprocket end 3 is rotatably guided via guide 6 at the machine frame 7, with journal end 8 of drum 2 being carried in bearing 10 of mounting frame 9. Within the interior of bore hole 4 at the journal end 8 of drum 2, a chamber 11 is provided which is free from serrations 5. At the outer end of journal end 8 a chain wheel box 12 is mounted on mounting frame 9 at machine frame 7 which includes a housing portion 13 within which is situated the sprocket wheel 14 for the drive cable means or drive chain used to drive the mining machine in the desired direction along the mine face. Sprocket wheel 14 is rotatably mounted via the bearings 15 and 16- within wheel box 12 and guided thereat via guides 17 and 18. Within the axial bore 19 of sprocket wheel 14, which is coaxial with chamber '11 and bore hole 4 of drum 2, an intermediate section is provided containing interior serrations 20, axially extending and radially inwardly directed. The serrations or teeth 20 are preferably similar in form and shape to the interior serrations 5 spaced axially therefrom. A shaft 21 is provided which has a free end containing axially extending and radially outwardly directed serrations or teeth 22, having a configuration conforming correspondingly to inwardly directed serrations 20 and inwardly directed serrations 5. Shaft 21 is axially displaceably disposed within hollow shaft 23 of gear wheel 24 by means of spline or similar connecting means 25 whereby shaft 21 will rotate with gear wheel 24 in any position of axial displacement of shaft 21 with respect to such wheel 24. Gear wheel 24 is carried in bearings 26 and 27 of transmission housing 28 in operative driving engagement with small transmission step gear 29 rotata' bly carried via bearings 30 and 31 in housing 28. A serrated coupling or pinion member 32 is operatively connected with gear 29 to drive the same. Coupling 32 is operatively connected in turn with the rotor of hydraulic motor 33 carried in bracket 34 of housing 28. Motor 33 is of conventional design and is provided with pressure medium, such as hydraulicor pneumatic fluid, in the direction of arrow 35 to drive the rotor and in turn coupling 32, whereupon the spent pressure medium is exhausted in the direction of arrow 36. Advantageously, therefore, suitable rotary motion may be imparted via the transmission parts 32, 29, 24, and 25 to the shaft 21. At the end of shaft 21 remote from sprocket wheel 14, a hollow recess 37 is provided in which is located a cylinder 38, fixed via seating flange 39 from axial displacement with respect to shaft 21. A piston 40 carried by the piston rod 41 is operatively disposed within cylinder 38, the remote end of piston rod 41 being fixedly mounted on the bracket cover 42 which in turn is attached to the adjacent portion of transmission housing 28. Flow lines 43 and 44 extend through rod 41 from the feed lines 45 and 46 at the exterior of bracket cover 42 so as to supply an auxiliary source of pressure fluid to either side of piston 40 in the conventional man- IlfilyThUS, upon suitable supply of pressure fluid to cylinder 38 on the appropriate side of piston 40, actuation of the piston-cylinder means will be attained. Because of the connection via seating flange 39 between cylinder 38 and shaft 21 and because of the mounting of shaft 21 in the hearing or spline 25 shaft 21 may be axially displaced within the hollow shaft 23 with respect to gear wheel 24, yet shaft 21 will rotate with gear wheel 24 in any axial position of movement of shaft 21 with respect to such gear wheel 24.

In accordance with the present invention, the axial dimension of the end portion of bore 19 free from serrations 22 together with the axial dimension of chamber 11 immediately adjacent thereto, provides an over-all axial dimension which is slightly larger than the axial dimension of the end portion of shaft 21 containing the serrations 22. Furthermore, the diameter of chamber 11 and the immediately adjacent portion of bore 19 not containing the serrations 20 is, in each instance, larger than the corresponding diameter of the end portion of shaft 21 containing serrations 22. Thus, by suitable axial displacement of shaft 21, serrations 22 may be placed in an intermediate position within the axial extent of chamber 11 and that portion of bore 19 free from serrations 20, without coupling engagement of serrations 22 with either serrations 20 or serrations 5. This is the idle or free position or inoperative position of shaft 21. However, upon displacement further to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, serrations 22 on the appropriate end of shaft 21 are placed in meshing engagement with serrations 5 in bore hole 4, whereby to transmit the torque of shaft 21 rotated via the gear transmissions 29, 24, and 25 to drum 2 for initiating the rotation of the drive drum for operating the conveyor chains.

In accordance with a particular purpose of the auxiliary coupling arrangement of the present invention, the use of hydraulic motor 33 permits initial torque to be transmitted to drum 2, separately from any torque which may be applied thereto, for example, at the opposite sprocket end of drum 2, via the main drive means for the drum. The slow initial movement of drum 2 via the auxiliary coupling arrangement of the present invention will permit inertia to be overcome, whereupon the main drive means for drum 2 may be engaged and the drum then operated under the full torque of the main drive means. At this point, shaft 21 may be displaced so that serrations 22 once again occupy chamber 11 and the adjacent portion of bore 19 free from serrations 20. Drum 2 will then be rotated in the conventional manner without interrupting engagement with shaft 21.

If it is desired before or after the starting movement of drum 2, as aforesaid, to start the rotation of sprocket wheel 14, shaft 21 is displaced in the opposite direction, i.e., toward the right as viewed in FIG. 1, until serrations 22 operatively engage serrations 20 of sprocket wheel 14. Upon rotation of shaft 21, at this axial position, sprocket wheel 14 will be suitably rotated.

It will be realized that in the normal instance, hydraulic motor 33 will be reduced to idle position When it is desired to axially displace shaft 21 such that serrations 22 will be placed in engagement with either serrations 20 or serrations 5, whereupon stripping of the serrations will be avoided. When meshing engagement between the appropriate serrations has been attained, then hydraulic motor 33 may be changed from inoperative position to operative motion transmitting position, whereupon shaft 21 will rotate, and in turn rotate either sprocket wheel 14 or drive drum 2, as the case may be, depending upon whether serrations 22 are in engagement with serrations 20 or serrations 5. The actual construction of serrations 22, on the one hand, and serrations 20 and 5, on the other hand, is such that in effect a spline connection similar to that of bearing or spline connection 25 is attained which permits axial movement to take place with respect to the splined parts, but which retains such parts against relative rotational displacement with respect to one another when in operative meshing disposition.

Of course, once sprocket wheel 14 has started to rotate, then the main drive means for rotating the sprocket wheel (not shown) can be engaged either at the end of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 Or at the opposite end of the conveyor arrangement where a similar sprocket wheel (not shown) is disposed for mounting at such end the 7 opposite portion of the drive cable means used to drive the mining planer back and forth along the mine face.

'In FIG. 2, the alternate embodiment shown includes a main drive means 50 for the drive drum 51 having the sprocket ends 52 and 53 in the form of endless chain mounting means, whereby to mount a pair of parallel scraper chains between which longitudinally spaced apart transverse scraper flights or bars are connectedly interposed in the manner of a double chain scraper conveyor system, with such chains being displaced longitudinally in conjunction with the rotation of drum 51. Drum 51 is mounted via the collar 54 at the sprocket end 53 in a bearing 55, with a similar mounting means being provided at the sprocket end 52. Bearing 55 is carried in journal 56 of the machine frame 7 adjacent conveyor 1, the latter parts being similar to those shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1. A channel or bore hole 57 is provided in the sprocket end 53 of drum 51 which contains the intermediate coupling collar link 58 having radially outwardly directed and axially extending serrations 59 disposed thereon which enmesh operatively with radially inwardly directed and axially extending serrations 60 defined on the interior of bore hole 57. Link 58 is provided with an axially extending recess portion also carried rotatably in bearing 55. Such axially extending portion of link 58 is provided with axially extending and radially inwardly directed serrations 61 which enmesh with axially extending radially outwardly directed corresponding serrations 62 on the adjacent free end of rotatable shaft 63. Shaft 63 is mounted in spaced apart bearings 64 and 65 of mounting frame 66 and carries gear wheel 67 rotatably disposed thereon via bearings 68 and 69. In order to couple rotatable gear wheel 67 and shaft 63 for common rotation, the clutch mechanism including clutch plate 70 and clutch surface 71 is provided. Clutch plate 70 is axially displaceably seated via a suitable spline connection on shaft 63 yet fixed from relative rotation with respect to shaft 63. Upon axial displacement of plate 70 into frictional engagement with clutch surface 71 of gear wheel 67, the rotational force of gear wheel 67 will be transmitted via plate 70 to shaft 63, whereby in turn to rotate link 58 at intermeshing serrations 61 and 62 and in turn to rotate drum 51 at intermeshing serrations 59 and 60.

Any suitable means (not shown) may be used to displace axially clutch plate 70 with respect to shaft 63 to engage and disengage plate 70 with clutch surface 71 as aforesaid. A simple expedient in this connection is to utilize a piston-cylinder means of the type shown in FIG. 1 which may be disposed within a hollow recess of shaft 63 and coupled for operative engagement with clutch plate 70 to axially displace the same with respect to shaft 63.

The rotation of gear wheel 67 is attained via the common drive shaft or pinion gear 73 via the suitable gear connection 72. Pinion gear 73 is rotatably mounted via bearings 74 and 75 in mounting frame 66 and is operatively connected via serrations or gear teeth 76 with serrations 77 on the exposed portion of the rotor 78 of fluid motor 79 similar to motor 33 of FIG. 1.

A separate gear wheel 80 mounted via bearings 81 and 82 on sprocket wheel drive shaft 83 is provided in engagement with pinion gear 73, the sprocket wheel shaft 83 being in turn rotatably mounted via bearings 84 and 87 in mounting frame 66. Actually, the sprocket wheel 86 is attached via the serrations 89 in the hollow bore thereof enmeshing with the corresponding serrations 88 on the free end of shaft 83, the intermediate collar 85 being disposed between bearings 97 and shaft 83.

A similar clutch mechanism including clutch plate 90 and clutch surface 91 is provided, whereby to transmit the rotary motion of gear wheel 80 to shaft 83 via the frictional engagement between clutch plate 90 and clutch surface 91. The arrangement of plate 90 and surface 91 is similar to that of plate 70 and surface 71, and the operation for axial displacement of the clutch plate is analogous to that contemplated for the aforesaid plate 70 and surface 71.

At the opposite end of shaft 83, a further sprocket wheel 92 is shown in phantom Within the sprocket wheel space 93.

Thus, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 2, the hydraulic motor 79 transmitting torque via pinion gear 73 may rotate either shaft 63, and in turn, link 58 and drum 51, or shaft 83 and in turn sprocket wheel 86, or both such linkages, depending upon the engagement or disengagement of the appropriate clutch mechanism. Naturally, the operation of clutch plate 70 and clutch surface 71 is independent of the operation of clutch plate and clutch surface 91. If these clutch mechanisms are operated simultaneously for engagement, shafts 63 and 83 will rotate simultaneously, whereby to rotate drum 51 and sprocket wheel 86, or by selective engagement and disengagement of such clutch mechanisms, either drum 51 or sprocket wheel 86 may be separately engaged. Such engagement will serve to start the rotation of the drum or the sprocket wheel in the same manner as in the arrangement of FIG. 1, whereupon once the rotation has begun, the main drive 50 for drum 51 may take over and, if provided, similarly the main drive (not shown) for the sprocket wheel 86 may take over. The operation in each instance is achieved using the appropriate clutch mechanism in question.

FIG. 3 illustrates a specific embodiment of a mounting frame in accordance with the present invention having the bracket for attaching a suitable hydraulic mot-or (not shown) thereat which is connected in the manner of FIG. 2 by selective drive transmission means of the type indigenous to FIG. 2, for example, with the shaft 108 for the drive drum (not shown) as well as with the shaft of the sprocket wheel 103. Shaft 108 is analogous to the link 58. Shaft 108 is housed via the bracket 107 in the section 106 of the mounting frame 100 spaced longitudinally from the mounting of sprocket wheel 103 Within the protected space 102 provided by the offset plate 101. The drive chain which is to be driven by the sprocket wheel 103 in accordance with the present invention is shown in phantom at 104.

In FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment is shown in which the appropriate end 116 of drum 115 of the conveyor is mounted at 114 on the mounting frame 109. Mounting frame 109 is provided with hydraulic motor 110 connected for driving not only the drum but also the sprocket wheel 111 disposed in the space 112 defined by the offset plate 113. These parts are similar to those in the arrangement of FIG. 3, in either instance, a selective drive transmission means of the type shown in FIG. 2 being utilized.

In FIG. 5 an embodiment of drive transmission means for the conveyor drum is shown which is similar to the particular shaft connection arrangement of FIG. 2, yet in this instance the means for coupling the drive with the sprocket wheel are not shown. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the drive shaft 129 coupled with the hydraulic motor 130 (by means not shown) may be directly connected via the intermediate coupling collar link 127 with the appropriate end 118 of the drive drum 117 for the conveyor. The mounting means 119 is shown for operative association with the corresponding drive chain for the conveyor, and within the appropriate end 118 the bore recess 125 is provided, which contains axially extending and radially inwardly directed teeth or serrations 126. In the same way, link 127 is provided with appropriate axially extending, radially outwardly directed teeth or serrations 128 along the portion thereof corresponding with bore recess 125, whereby to provide a suitable connection of the drum 117 with the shaft 129 for rotation of drum 117 with shaft 129. In particular, the end 118 of drum 117 is provided with a rim flange as well as a tubular flange 121 outwardly flaring in 9 the direction of shaft 129 to permit the appropriate end portion of link 127 to receive in a suitable bore recess therewithin the adjacent end of shaft 129. Such end of link 127 is rotatably mounted via bearings 122 and 132 which are carried in frame bracket 123 attached in turn to machine frame 124. Also, the appropriate portion of tubular flange 121 is rotatably mounted via bearing 122 to ensure unhindered rotation in unison of drum 117, end 118, mounting means 119, rim flange 120, tubular flange 121, link 127, and shaft 129. It will be appreciated that the interconnection of the appropriate portion of link 127 with the adjacent end of shaft 129 is achieved with a construction of serrations similar to those shown in the parts 63 and 58 of FIG. 2, i.e., serrations 61 and 62 thereof. The bracket 131 is used to mount hydraulic motor 130 to permit operative engagement of shaft 129 with the appropriate aforesaid parts to achieve the initial rotation of drum 117. The particular constructional details illustrated represent a clearer depiction of an interconnecting arrangement of parts corresponding to those used for driving drum 51 of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 6 an alternate embodiment is shown of the drum 140 having the mounting means 141 for driving the appropriate conveyor chain with the drum end being carried via bearing 142 in the rim flange 143 situated on the mounting frame 145, in turn carried by the machine frame 144. The housing 146 of the mounting frame 145 is provided with a chamber 147 containing the drive sprocket wheel 148 for driving the mining machine chain, wheel 148 being rotatably mounted via bearings 149 and 150 in the housing 146 with suitable circular guides 151 and 152 being provided to maintain proper axial alignment of wheel 148. A bore recess 153 is provided in the axial end of wheel 148 adjacent hydraulic motor 155 to permit the motor shaft 154 to be received therewithin, for example, in the manner of the interconnection between link 127 and shaft 129 of FIG. 5, whereby in this particular instance to drive sprocket wheel 148 rather than drum 140. A similar shaft to that shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2 is provided for driving drum 140 l11y a transmission (not shown) of the type illustrated in Accordingly, in each of the embodiments shown, the particular hydraulic motor or other prime mover may be utilized to start the rotation of either the conveyor drum or the drive chain sprocket wheel in question, separately or simultaneously, whereby the main drive for such drum and/or sprocket wheel may be placed into operation to take up with full power the necessary rotation, whereupon the auxiliary drive transmission arrangement of the present invention'may be disengaged to allow normal operation of the parts in question. In this manner, the wear and tear on the main drive and on the main transmission linkages will be minimized and the various parts will be less subject-to extreme forces such as might occur in attempting to start the rotation of the conveyor drum or sprocket wheel therewith. The relatively slow. yet powerful rotation of the drum and/ or sprocket wheel provided by the auxiliary hydraulic motor or similar drive means allows the inertia of the static conveyor chains and flights orbars as well as of the static mining machine and accompanying drive cable means to be overcome so as to move these parts against the attendant frictional forces with aminimum of abrupt stresses on the working parts and in turn with a minimum of wear and tear from this source.

' The hydraulic drive therefore provides a high torque in the initial stages of operation of the rotating parts until the parts begin to operate, whereupon the normally lower torque of the main drive means in either or both instances may take over with less effort. At this point, the torque transmitted to the drum and/ or sprocket wheel from the auxiliary transmission of the present invention will be negligible, so that the auxiliary drive transmitting means may be withdrawn from engagement with the drum or sprocket wheel.

In particular connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the auxiliary drive transmitting means in the form of the shaft 21 may be moved first from the chamber 11 into the bore hole 4 to start the rotation of drum 2 and upon the subsequent engagement of the main drive for the drum (not shown) shaft 21 may be axially displaced to its neutral position in chamber 11 and thence further in the same direction into engagement with serrations 22 in the bore 19 of sprocket wheel 14 to start the rotation thereof. The main drive for the sprocket wheel may then be engaged in the instance where a separate drive means therefor is provided, or the hydraulic motor in question may be used normally to drive sprocket wheel 14 and only as an auxiliary means to start therotation of drum 2 in a particular instance.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 diifers from that of FIG. 1 in that simultaneous or separate independent auxiliary driving engagement may be provided for both the drum and the sprocket wheel in question.

The preferred construction includes relatively short axial shafts, collar links, sleeves, etc., to provide maximum transmission of rotary motion in the desired manner and immediately responsive change in rotary drive connections among the particular parts, as for example, via the displaceable shaftof FIG. 1 and the displaceable clutch plates in FIG. 2. By way of particular constructional details, simple and durable parts may now be provided which are housed protectively in a desired spatial relationship with one another, considering the need for.protection of operating parts in a mineway where exposure to extremes of mine dust, such as coal dust, and relatively rough treatment is to be expected.

It will be realized that the hydraulic motor may be replaced by an electric motor, in either case the motor being a prime mover or similar device with or without independent transmission, i.e., with stepped up or infinite ranges of rotational drive.

It will be realized that the particular arrangement of the various shafts, gear wheels, pinion gears, etc. permits 'advantageoususage of minimum space at the mounting frame of the conveyor drive means, with convenient protection of the particular operatively interconnected parts, and with preferable dimensioning of the various parts to permit the substitution of one for another, as appropriate in the'circumstances. The interchangeability of various gears, shafts, collar links, clutch mechanisms, etc. enhances the versatility of the constructional arrangement provided in accordance with the present invention;

It will be appreciated by theartisan that while a main purpose for the arrangement of the present invention is to supply auxiliary power to start the rotation of the conveyor drum and/ or the sprocket wheel which drives the chain used to displace the mining machine, if desired, the aforementioned transmission means may be utilized as the main drive means for the conveyor drum and/or the sprocket wheel for displacing the mining machine, alone or together with typical drive means heretofore provided for-such purposes. Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that the auxiliary or main driving of the conveyor drum and/or of the sprocket wheel for the mining machine may be accomplished with a hydraulic motor, electric motor, or other prime mover, located directly at the conveyor mounting means. Of course, in the case where the conveyor drum and sprocket wheel can only be engaged by the transmisison means of the invention alternately as, for example, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, suitable supplemental drive means in the form of a hydraulic motor or other prime mover may be used .whereby to provide the main driving force either for the drum or sprocket wheel as the case may be.

Thus, while in the past it was not possible to change over readily from an electric drive, for instance, to a hydraulic drive, and particularly a slow running hydraulic motor power transmission, because such hydraulic motors could not be provided with a large enough gear to take up the extraordinary forces transmitted via the conveyor drive drum blind bearing to which the same had to be connected in order to transmit the driving power, in accordance with the present invention, rather than replacing the known construction of the blind bearing of the conveyor drum with a different construction specifically adapted for use in connection with a hydraulic motor drive shaft of the desired type, a combination of elements is used together with the conveyor drive drum blind hearing which permits versatility in operation. Specifically, the coupling provided between the hydraulic motor drive shaft and the blind bearing recess in the conveyor drive drum is such that the conventional parts of the drive drum and/or the hydraulic motor, including the drive shaft therefor, may be utilized with an intermediate coupling means, simple in construction and inexpensive to produce, yet which permits the desired transmission of power without the prior art drawbacks. Hence, the conventional equipment may now be used in accordance with the present invention with a minimum of modification. Otherwise, utilizing the conveyor drive drum blind bearing, the prior art of necessity had to resort to special constructions of the hydraulic drive motors, with attendant expense in their upkeep and for replacing worn parts. The transmission in accordance with the present invention permits the use of hydraulic motors of slow speed, as aforesaid, for example in starting the conveyor drive drum and/ or the planer traction cable displacement, so that the main drive, such as an electric drive or other hydraulic drive, may take over the running of the equipment once the same has been started. The foregoing is achieved in accordance with the present invention without the need for over-sized hearings to accommodate the normal electric or hydraulic drives, i.e. with respect to transmitting power therewith. While in the past any constructional arrangement utilized in order to couple the hydraulic slow speed engine or motor in question with the conveyor drive drum involved parts which prevented the direct connection or positioning of the hydraulic motor at the machine frame itself, by way of the present invention which contemplates the retention of as many as possible of the conventional parts, the hydraulic drive motors utilized may be operatively coupled directly at the machine frame in a compact manner regardless of whether the coupling drive is hydraulic, mechanical, electromechanical, etc. This is true since the coupling arrangement of the present invention is sufliciently versatile to permit all kinds of drives to be connected via the power transmission shafts to the conveyor drive drum blind hearing and/or to the drive wheel for the traction cable without cumbersome or special gear connections and the like.

It will be realized, of course, that if desired, a blind bearing may be provided at both ends of the conveyor drive drum so that a coupling arrangement of the instant type may be suitably accommodated thereat, whereby to provide drive shaft connections of the instant type on either or both sides of the conveyor drive drum. Random interchangeability between conveyor drive means and planer drive means may now be provided in accordance with the instant invention to permit selective use of hydraulic motor drives and/ or electromechanical drives depending upon the circumstances.

It will be appreciated that the instant specification and drawings are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mining arrangement including a mining conveyor drive mounting means having a mining conveyor driving drum operatively rotatably mounted thereon, and main connecting means at one end of said drum for operatively connecting said drum with a main drive means for rotatable driving of said drum, the improvement which comprises auxiliary connecting means at the other end of said drum, auxiliary coupling means, and drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means, said auxiliary motion transmitting means and said auxiliary coupling means being rotatably mounted on said conveyor drive mounting means at said other end of said drum and operatively positioned with respect to each other and with respect to said auxiliary connecting means for relative movement with respect to one another from an inoperative auxiliary rotary motion transmitting position to an operative auxiliary rotary motion transmitting position whereby to place said auxiliary motion transmitting means, said auxiliary coupling means, and said auxiliary connecting means in cooperative rotatable mo tion transmitting engagement for auxiliary rotatable driving of said drum separately from rotatable driving of said drum by the main drive means.

2. Improvement according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary connecting means includes an axially extending bore recess means in said other end of said drum having radially inwardly directed axially extending bore serrations defined therein, said drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means includes a rotatably mounted drive wheel having an axially extending center journal aperture coaxial with said bore recess means, and said auxiliary coupling means includes a drive shaft coaxially displace-ably received in said journal aperture and connected to said drive wheel thereat for rotation therewith, said drive shaft having an end portion adjacent said bore recess means with radially outwardly directed axially extending shaft serrations defined thereon operatively corresponding to said inwardly directed bore serrations, and said drive shaft being axially displaceable from an inoperative position with said outwardly directed shaft serrations axially remote from said radially inwardly directed bore serrations to an operative position with said radially outwardly directed shaft serrations in rotatable coupling engagement with said radially inwardly directed bore serrations to cause rotation of said mining conveyor driving drum upon rotation of said drive wheel and in turn said drive shaft.

3. Improvement according to claim 2 wherein a mining machine drive sprocket means, for driving a drive cable to conduct a mining machine along a conveyor with which said conveyor drive mounting means is adapted to be associated, is rotatably mounted on said conveyor drive mounting means between said other end of the conveyor driving drum and said drive wheel, said drive sprocket means having an axially extending center journal aperture, coaxial with said drive shaft and said bore recess means, and provided with corresponding radially inwardly directed axially extending sprocket serrations defined therein, the axial edge of said sprocket serrations adjacent said bore recess means being spaced a predetermined axial distance from the correspondingly adjacent axial edge of said bore serrations, said shaft serrations on said shaft end portion extending axially a shorter distance than said predetermined distance, such that said shaft may be displaced from said inoperative position in which said shaft serrations are situated between the edges of said sprocket serrations and bore serrations in one axial direction a first axial distance to a sprocket operative position with said shaft serrations in operative rotatable engagement with said sprocket serrations, and in the other axial direction a second axial distance to a drum operative position with said shaft serrations in operative rotatable engagement with said bore serrations, whereby upon rotation of said drive wheel, and in turn said shaft, said sprocket means and driving drum may be alternately rotated.

4. Improvement according to claim 3 wherein said drive wheel is operatively connected to auxiliary rotatable drive means to drive said wheel and in turn said shaft,

13 and wherein displacement imparting control means are provided operatively interconnecting said shaft and said conveyor drive mounting means to effect displacement of said shaft between said inoperative position and said sprocket operative and drum operative positions.

5. Improvement according to claim 4 wherein the other end portion of said shaft is provided with a shaft recess extending coaxially therein, said control means including piston-cylinder means: received in said shaft recess and operatively interconnecting said shaft with said conveyor drive mounting means.

6. Improvement according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary connecting means includes an axially extending bore recess means in said other end of said drum having radially inwardly directed axially extending bore serrations defined therein and a coaxially positioned rotatably mounted shaft having an end portion adjacent said bore recess means with radially outwardly directed axially extending shaft serrations defined thereon as well as an intermediate coupling collar link having a coaxially extending receiving recess, said collar link having corresponding radially outwardly directed axially extending collar link serrations defined thereon operatively engaging said bore serrations and having corresponding radially inwardly directed axially extending collar link serrations defined therein operatively engaging said shaft serrations, said drivable auxiliary rotary motion transmitting means includes a rotatably mounted drive wheel having an axially extending center journal aperture coaxial with said bore recess means, said shaft being coaxially received in said journal apenture mounted for rotation independently of the rotation of said drive wheel, and said auxiliary coupling means includes auxiliary clutch means axially displaceably mounted on said shaft adjacent said drive wheel and connected for rotation with said shaft, said auxiliary clutch means being axially displaceable from an inoperative clutch engaging position spaced from said drive wheel to an operative clutch engaging position in which said auxiliary clutch means is in operative engagement with said drive wheel to effect rotation of said shaft, collar link and drive drum upon rotation of said drive wheel.

7. Improvement according to claim 6 wherein a mining machine drive sprocket means, for driving a drive cable to conduct a mining machine along a conveyor with which said conveyor drive mounting means is adapted to be associated, is rotatably mounted via a sprocket shaft on said conveyor drive means along a sprocket axis spaced from the axis of said shaft and said drive wheel, auxiliary rotatable drive spindle means being provided in operative engagement with said drive wheel to effect rotation of said shaft, collar link and drive drum, a sprocket shaft gear wheel being mounted on said sprocket shaft for rotation independently thereof and situated in operative engagement with said drive spindle means, and sprocket clutch means being provided axially dispiaceably on said sprocket shaft adjacent said sprocket shaft gear wheel and connected for rotation with said sprocket shaft, said sprocket clutch means being axially displaceable from an inoperative clutch engaging position spaced fromsaid sprocket shaft gear wheel to an operative clutch engaging position in which said sprocket clutch means is in operative engagement with said sprocket shaft gear wheel to effect rotation of said sprocket shaft and sprocket means, whereby alternate and simultaneous rotation of said drive drum and said sprocket means may be carried out in dependence upon the axial position of said auxiliary clutch means and the axial position of said sprocket clutch means with respect to said drive wheel and said sprocket shaft gear wheel, respectively.

8. Improvement according to claim 7 wherein said auxiliary rotatable drive spindle means is operatively connected to auxiliary rotatable drive means to drive said spindle and in turn said drive drum and said sprocket means in dependence upon the axial positions of said auxiliary clutch means and said sprocket clutch means.

References Cited ROBERT M. WALKER, Primary Examiner. L. H. GERIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MINING ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING A MINING CONVEYOR DRIVE MOUNTING MEANS HAVING A MINING CONVEYOR DRIVING DRUM OPERATIVELY ROTARABLY MOUNTED THEREON, AND MAIN CONNECTING MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID DRUM FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID DRUM WITH A MAIN DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATABLE DRIVING OF SAID DRUM, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES AUXILIARY CONNECTING MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID DRUM, AUXILIARY COUPLING MEANS, AND DRIVABLE AUXILIARY ROTARY MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS, SAID AUXILIARY MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS AND SAID AUXILIARY COUPLING MEANS BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CONVEYOR DRIVE MOUNTING MEANS AT SAID OTHER END OF SAID DRUM AND OPERATIVELY POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND WITH RESPECT TO SAID AUXILIARY CONNECTING MEANS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ONE ANOTHER FROM AN INOPERATIVE AUXILIARY ROTARY MOTION TRANSMITTING POSITION TO AN OPERATIVE AUXILIARY ROTARY MOTION TRANSMITTING POSITION WHEREBY TO PLACE SAID AUXILIARY MOTION TRANS- 